What is the power struggle between President Milei and Argentina's soccer federation?

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina produces some of the best soccer players on the planet and has three World Cup titles to prove it.

Off the field, though, a major power struggle is transpiring between Argentina President Javier Milei and Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia.

Tapia opposes Milei's effort to enable soccer clubs to become sports limited companies, inspired by the model of the English Premier League. He wants clubs to continue to belong to members — not to private shareholders.

The government threatened to intervene in AFA due to alleged irregularities in Tapia’s re-election to a third term.

Amid this struggle, FIFA and CONMEBOL warned that any government interference in the management of AFA will result in its disaffiliation, and its teams will be marginalized from all competitions.

Milei, a libertarian economist who has pushed economic deregulation, signed a decree last December enabling soccer clubs organized as civil associations to transform into public limited companies. The former do not pursue a commercial purpose, while PLCs seek profit.

The government also gave sports associations, federations and confederations a period of one year from August to modify their statutes and accept this new form of organization.

The new model is optional and clubs that want to transform into sports corporations will require the vote of two-thirds of their members present at an extraordinary assembly.

Milei said that the time has come to end “poor socialism in soccer” and predicted a windfall of investment.

AFA says its statutes prohibit the affiliation and participation in its tournaments of sports corporations. It won a court order blocking the decree. That ruling was appealed by the government and the Supreme Court will have the last word.

“The clubs need to fulfill the function they fulfill as the civil associations that they are,” Tapia said. “I am convinced that that is its essence. Most clubs have an established statute that civil associations are not to be changed.”

If a club decides to become a public limited company, it will be disaffiliated, AFA warned.

Argentina is a renown producer of soccer talent — Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona start the list.

Despite the success developing young players, most clubs are forced to let them go earlier to be able to financially sustain not only their professional team, but also other sports and social activities in the club.

“In soccer in Argentina we are 40 years behind,” said Guillermo Tofoni, a FIFA agent who is also an adviser in Milei's government. “It is played any day, at any time, the tournaments (formats) change, the corruption of the referees. All this combination means that the television networks do not pay what they deserve, and a vicious and non-virtuous circle is generated.”

Argentine soccer receives less than $100 million a year for television rights, far below the billions of dollars shared by English Premier League clubs.

According to Tofoni, with genuine private capital investment “clubs can keep their players until they are 24, 25 years old, and sell them to the European market when it is convenient, not because they need to.”

So far, Estudiantes La Plata and Talleres de Córdoba are the only clubs publicly in favor of allowing private capital to enter soccer.

“I am pragmatic, I understand that soccer is a business. They leave us out of business, Argentina, Argentine soccer is out of business,” Estudiantes president Juan Sebastián Verón said. “Let us not be afraid of growth, of the new, which can take us to a very important place in the future.”

The former Argentina midfielder recently signed a pre-agreement with the American businessman Foster Gillett, who will invest $150 million in the club.

In turn, the American investor will benefit from future sales of players, the commercial exploitation of the stadium’s name and profits from competing in international tournaments. The agreement must be endorsed by the members of “Pincha” in an extraordinary assembly.

Amid the dispute, Tapia called an election of new AFA authorities a year early. As the only candidate, Tapia was re-elected to a third term on Oct. 17, thus ensuring he would continue in office until 2028 — a year after the end of Milei’s term.

“It looks like Venezuela with (President Nicolás) Maduro celebrated Christmas earlier,” said Milei, who a few days later signed a decree that took away social security benefits from AFA.

In turn, the General Inspection of Justice, a body dependent on the Ministry of Justice and in charge of regulating civil associations, challenged Tapia’s re-election and threatened to intervene in the AFA.

However, a civil appeals court upheld the October vote.

Both entities are closely following the dispute. In official notes, they indicated that only the local federation can set the statutory framework of the clubs and warned that state interference is a cause for disaffiliation.

“The AFA, and only the AFA, is, in view of the legal framework of FIFA, the only entity competent to decide, through its legitimate associative governing bodies, aspects relating to the legal nature of the clubs affiliated to the same,” FIFA said.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino also congratulated Tapia on his re-election and thanked him for “all his efforts, work and important contribution to the development of our sport.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Fans gather to celebrate the anniversary of the "Hand of God" goal and the "Goal of the Century" scored by soccer legend Diego Maradona against England during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

FILE - Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, AFA, attends the presentation of the Aerolíneas Argentinas World Cup aircraft, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct. 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi, holding the Copa America trophy, celebrates with teammates their victory over Colombia in the Copa America final soccer match in Miami Gardens, Fla., July 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

FILE - CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez present to soccer legend Lionel Messi the Leadership and Command of World Soccer baton as Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentina Soccer Association or AFA, looks on during a ceremony at CONMEBOL headquarters in Asuncion, Paraguay, March 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz, File)

FILE - Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentina Soccer Association or AFA, backdropped by a bus banner of featuring World Cup 2022 team players, attends the "World Champions" exhibit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, April 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

FILE - Presidential hopeful Javier Milei holds up a replica of the World Cup soccer trophy during a campaign rally in Lomas de Zamora, Argentina, Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston's Azeez Al-Shaair was suspended by the NFL without pay for three games Tuesday for repeated violations of player safety rules following his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.

Al-Shaair's punishment was announced by NFL vice president of football operations Jon Runyan. In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan noted that he has had multiple offenses for personal fouls and sportsmanship-related rules violations in recent seasons.

Back in the starting lineup after missing two games with a sprained left shoulder, Lawrence scrambled left on a second-and-7 play in the second quarter of Houston’s 23-20 win on Sunday. He initiated a slide before Al-Shaair raised his forearm and unleashed on the defenseless quarterback.

In his letter to Al-Shaair, Runyan called the hit “unacceptable and a serious violation of the playing rules.”

“Video shows you striking the head/neck area of Jaguars’ quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he clearly goes down in a feet-first slide," Runyan wrote. “You led with your forearm and helmet and delivered a forceful blow to the head/neck area of your opponent when you had time and space to avoid such contact.”

Al-Shaair is appealing the suspension, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the appeal is pending.

If the suspension is upheld, Al-Shaair won't be eligible to return to Houston’s active roster until after the team’s Christmas Day game against the Baltimore Ravens. Al-Shaair has a base salary of $1.5 million this season, meaning it will cost him about $265,000 if the three-game suspension is upheld.

Lawrence clenched both fists after the hit — movements consistent with what’s referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury. He was on the ground for several minutes as teammates came to his defense and mobbed Al-Shaair in what escalated into a brawl.

As Al-Shaair was leaving the field after being ejected, fans started screaming at him. Jaguars veteran guard Brandon Scherff joined in, prompting another altercation with Al-Shaair. Texans teammate Will Anderson grabbed Al-Shaair and was escorting him off the field when a fan threw a water bottle and hit Anderson in the helmet. The fan was later ejected.

Runyan also outlined Al-Shaair's behavior after the hit in announcing the suspension.

“After the illegal hit, you proceeded to engage in a brawl, which you escalated when you pulled an opponent down to the ground by his facemask,” he wrote. “After the referee announced that you were disqualified for the hit and your unsportsmanlike acts, you removed your helmet and reengaged with your opponent while walking down and across the field, which started another physical confrontation near the end zone.”

This is the third time this season Al-Shaair has been punished by the league. Last week, he was flagged and later fined $11,255 for a late hit out of bounds on Titans running back Tony Pollard.

He was fined earlier this year after he punched Bears running back Roschon Johnson on the sideline in Week 2. That occurred during a scuffle that started after his hard shot on quarterback Caleb Williams near the sideline wasn’t flagged.

“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL," Runyan told Al-Shaair in the letter. "Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”

Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence in a long post on X Monday, where he said first said he didn’t see Lawrence sliding until “it was too late” and that it happened “in the blink of an eye” before saying he was sorry for the hit.

Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Sunday it was a play that ”really has no business being in our league," and said Monday that the team is considering shutting Lawrence down for the season.

AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) leaves the field on a cart after getting injured on a late hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17, right) jumps on Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) after his late hit on quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) is looked at by trainers after a late hit by Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) slides in front of Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (0) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. Lawrence was injured on the play. (AP Photo/John Raoux)